Leveling means for illuminator



Nov. 28, 1961 J. H. SPAULDING 3,011,047

LEVELING MEANS FOR ILLUMINATOR Filed Feb. 21, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 4e 5e 46 Q J 46 26 T 38 4s 38 T 244 V I0 l0 62 3o 62 INVENTOR.

1%.! JOSEPH h. SPAUL owe Nov. 28, 1961 J. H. SPAULDING 3,011,047

LEVELING MEANS FOR ILLUMINATOR 4 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH H SPAULDl/VG ATT RNE United States atent O 3,011,047 LEVELING MEANS FOR ILLUMINATOR Joseph H. Spaulding, Lakeside Park, Ky. (4814 S. Raeburn Drive, Cincinnati 23, Ohio) Filed Feb. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 716,785 10 Claims. (Cl. 24fl-3) This invention relates to illuminators, and particularly to means for effecting the leveling of the adjacent ends of two or more illuminators mounted in end-to-end relationship.

'An object of the invention is to provide simple yet highly effective means in association with the end plates of an illuminator housing which, when associated with complementary means in the end plate of an adjacent fixture, will enable the joint between the two abutting fixtures to be elevated for thereby effecting a leveling ofthe said illuminators.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a typical two-fixture illuminator installation illustrating a condition of central sag at the adjacent or adjoining ends of the illuminators, and which sag the present invention is adapted to overcome.

FIG. 2 is a view of the upper portion only of FIG. 1, showing the relationship of the illuminators with the sag eliminated.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2, with portions being broken away to reveal the interior of the adjacent ends of the illuminator-s of FIGS. 1 and 2. 7

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken transversely of an illuminator unit, on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and illustrating, on an enlarged scale, the sag between adjacent units as depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing the method of sag correction embraced by the present invention and indicating the leveled relationship between the adjacent illuminator units as depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

At the outset it should be noted that the present invention is not directed to any particular size, style or shape of illuminator unit, but is adapted for use with any type of illuminator having end plates at the opposite ends thereof, and wherein two or more similar illuminator units are interconnected in end-to-end relationship for providing a composite fixture having an overall length equal to the combined length of the individual illuminator units comprising the assembly.

By way of example, the illuminator unit of the invention may be of the general type such as is extensively used at service stations and which, as best illustrated in FIG. 1, may serve the purpose of a canopy partly covering and illuminating pumps or dispensers 10 on an island 12 of a typical service station installation.

The numerals 2t) and 30 denote generally any type of illuminator suitable for the usages indicated; wherein said illuminators are adapted to be mounted in abutting endto-end relationship, being mounted above platform 12 by means of posts or standards 22 and 32. The present invention is neither directed to nor concerned with the particular mounting means by which posts 22 and 32 are secured to their respective illuminator units 20 and 36; however, solely by way of example, the upper ends of the posts may receive sleeves 24 and 34, respectively, of shoeassemblies 26 and 36, wherein each of the said shoeassemblies is adapted for adjustable positioning relative to and longitudinally of the respective illuminator units 3,1l,47 Patented Nov. 28, 1961 20 and 30. The shoe assemblies may be securely clamped to the opposed rails 38 of a longitudinal, open-bottom, inverted box 40 (FIG. 4) extending centrally of the unit. Box 40 of each unit may include a base 42, and depending side walls 44, in addition to the rails 38, 38.

With further reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 1, the illuminator unit includes a pair of identical end plates 46, each of which carries a plurality of lamp socket mounts 48 capable of supporting tubular lamps 50 which extend lengthwise of the unit from one end plate to the other. The lamps are shown only on FIGS 3 and 4 of the drawings, and are omitted from the remaining drawing views. Inwardly directed flanges 52 on the end plates may be drilled and tapped to receive a series of screws 54 which secure in position a cover sheet or canopy 56 that spans the end plates and establishes the length of the illuminator unit. Support for the canopy intermediate the two end plates of a unit may be supplied by a spine member 58 which is upstanding upon the box 4! and preferably made integral therewith as shown. The spine member may present oppositely directed flanges oil-6t), underlying the canopy and providing support therefor. As will be understood, the spine member should preferably bisect the illuminator unit lengthwise.

FIGS. 4 and 3 show, at 62, glazed frames hinged to the illuminator bottom at 64, for protecting the lamps and the interiors of the illurninators from damage and dust deposits, but so far as the present invention is concerned, the glazed frames may be considered as nonessential structure.

It may here be pointed out that each end plate of an illuminator unit has connection with the sides of box 40 (FIG. 4), at the cap screws 66. These screws pass through the material of the box sides 44, and are anchored in the bridge flanges 68 which are integral with the end plate 46, and extend inwardly of the unit like the flanges 52. Similar anchorages may be employed to connect the end plate to the base portion 42 of the box, if further support is believed necessary or desirable. These anchorages, as will be understood, are located at opposite ends of the box, where the end plates are situated.

When two complete illuminator units are to be connected end-to-end for establishing the relationship shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, use is made of a heavy connector plate 70 which spans the joint between the units and holds the units together endwise. The connector plate may be provided with a series of holes to receive cap screws 72 or similar fasteners, which pass through the material of the box base 42 and are anchored in backing plates 74 placed atop the box at opposite sides of the spine member 58. The connector plate may be provided with side flanges '76 to produce a channel forma tion imparting rigidity to the plate.

In the preferred embodiment, the connector plate is provided at its middle point with a depending or pressed boss 78 circular in form, the boss being centrally apertured at 80 and internally screw-threaded for reception of the complementarily threaded portion 82 of a leveling bolt or element 84. The leveling bolt or element 84 has at one end a head 86 to receive a tool for rotating the same, whereas the opposite end is tapered to conical form as at 88, providing a wedge portion remote from the headed end 86. It may be noted by referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, that the head end 86 of the leveling bolt or element is fully exposed and readily accessible beneath the illuminator units, for application of a wrench or similar implement whereby rotation may be imparted to the bolt for elevating and lowering the wedge end 88 thereof relative to the connector plate 7 0.

The purpose of the leveling bolt or element above mentioned, is to forcefully yet easily effect divergence of g the abutting end plates 46, 46 of the two illurninator units 20 and 30', at the upper portions of the end plates, to accomplish the leveling or aligning effect evident by comparing FIGS. 1 and 2, or FIGS. 5 and 6. In order to adapt the end plates for cooperation with the leveling bolt, each end plate may be pressed, cast or otherwise formed to provide in the outer face thereof a vertically extending, open-faced, half-cylindrical pocket 90,'open at its lower end 92 and preferably enlarged as there indicated, while at the upper end each pocket terminates in .an upper conical or constricted portion 94- tapered in substantial correspondency with the tapered point or wedge portion of the leveling bolt. When the end plates 46, 46 are in end-to-end, fiatwise abutment with one another, the half-pockets above described are in registry and will accordingly provide a longitudinal cylindrical passage to receive the shank and the wedge end of the leveling bolt or element 84. By reference, ample clearance is provided between the wall of the passage and the shank.

of the leveling bolt to avoid undue frictional resistance to rotation of the bolt.

It may be noted that the apex 96 of the conical or constricted portions of the pockets or passage which accommodates the wedge end of the leveling bolt, terminates within the confines of the end plates, at a distance below the upper edges 98, 98. Therefore, when the leveling bolt or element 84 is rotated to advance the wedge end thereof into the conical end portion of the pocket, the end plates will be moved from the initial FIG. 5 relationship of abutment, to the FIG. '6 position at which the end plates are separated at the upper edges, for leveling or aligning the illuminator units as depicted by FIGS. 6 and 2. The clearance at 92 permits entry of the bolt thread a 82 into the pocket without restraint. The bolt thread may be furnished with a look-nut, if desired, although under normal conditions of installation the leveling bolt will not tend to back away from its adjusted position.

In the embodiment illustrated, a single leveling bolt or element 84 is utilized, this being located midway between the ends of the end plates; however, if desired, additional leveling bolts may be interposed between the end plates of adjacent illuminator units, requiring additional pockets in the end plates to accommodate such added leveling bolts. In actual practice, however, a single leveling bolt asv disclosed herein has been found adequate.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, I securely anchor base portions 42 of the box portions 40 of the longitudinal reinforcing spine 58 of each unit to the lower end or underside of pocket portions 90, such as, by way of example, by means of screws 110, note FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. In this manner any tendency for the base portions 42 to pull away from or move relative to the end plates, incident to manipulation of leveling bolt 84 for applying an axial force to the upper conical portions of the end plates, is eliminated. From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I. hav provided simple yet highly effective means, easily and FIG. I quite often amounted to from one-quarter to onethird of the cost of the fixture itself and required the expenditure of great amounts of time; however, when using the leveling means of the subject invention, the installation and leveling costs may be greatly reduced, since one man using'a wrench can accurately level a fixture in a matter of minutes.

What I claim is: 7

1. A lighting fixture comprising in combination, a pair of elongate illuminator units each having a transversely disposed end plate, the end plates being of like size and each having an outer face and upper and lower spaced edges adapted to register when the units are placed end to end, a connector platesecured to and joining the units near the lower edges of the end plates in registry, said connector plate transversely spanning the joint between the end plates of the units, a wedge for advancement between and against the outer faces of the adjacent end plates near the upper edges of the latter, for forcing said end plates apart at said upper edges while the lower edges thereof are held in restraint by the connector plate, and means carried by the connector plate for advancing and retracting the wedge relative to the upper edges of I the end plates.

conveniently accessible from the underside of the fixture,

for quickly and accurately effecting leveling of the adjacent ends of illuminator units mounted in end-to-end relationship as in FIGS. 1 and 2. Such leveling is accomplished by providing a single leveling bolt upwardly through and in threaded engagement with the connector plate which extends under the adjacent end plates of a pair of elongate fixtures which are interconnected by said connector plate, wherein the bolt is located between and centrally of said end platm. The leveling bolt is thus mounted for axial or endwise movement in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the interconnected fixtures whereby upward movement of the bolt will result in V lateral separation of the upper adjacent faces of the end plates about the connector plate which serves as a fulcrum.

Heretofore the cost of installing and leveling a multiple-unit lighting fixture of the general type illustrated in 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein the end plates are provided with registering channels receptive of thewedge, and registering inclinations against which the wedge impinges when advanced to force said end plates apart.

3. A lighting fixture comprising in combination, a pair of elongate illuminator units each having a transversely disposed end plate, the end plates being of like size and each having an outer face and upper and lower spaced edges adapted to register when the units are placed end to end, a transversely apertured connector plate secured to and joining the units near the lower edges of the end plates in registry, said connector plate transversely spanning the joint between the end plates of the units, with the aperture of the connector plate aligned with said joint, an elongate wedge member having a head end, an opp-o site wedge end, and an intermediate shank portion, the shank portion at the head end being longitudinally shiftable in the aperture of the connector plate to advance and retract the wedge end of said member relative to the upper edges of the end plates, inclined means on both end plates cooperating with the wedge end of the wedge member to enforce separation of the end plates at their upper edges while the lower edges thereof are held in restraint by the connector plate, and co-operative means on the connector plate and the elongate wedge member shank, for holding the elongate wedge member in predetermined advanced positions.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3, wherein the end plates are provided with registering channels extending from the lower edges thereof upwardly toward the upper edges, said channels co-operating to provide a longitudinal pocket receptive of the shank portion of the elongate Wedge member, and embracing the inclined means aforesaid.

5. A lighting fixture comprising in combination, a pair of elongate illuminator units each having a transversely disposed end plate, the end plates being of like size and each having an outer face and upper and lower spaced edges adapted to register when the units are placed end to end, a connector plate having a transverse aperture internally screw-threaded, and means fixing the connector plate to the units near the lower edges of the end plates in registry, said connector plate transversely spanning the joint between the end plates of the units, with the threaded aperture of the connector plate aligned with said join-t, a rotatable leveling bolt having a wedge end, a shank, and an externally threaded end, the latter being engaged with the internal threads of the connector plate aperture to advance and retract the bolt upon rotation thereof, registering channels formed in the end plates extending from the lower edges upwardly to close proximity with the upper edges of the end plates, said channels co-operating to provide a longitudinal pocket freely receptive of the shank of the leveling bolt, inclined walls on the end plates within the channels, and disposed near the upper edges of the end plates, in position to be engaged by the wedge end of the leveling bolt when the bolt is advanced through the threaded aperture of the connector plate to wedge the end plates apart at the upper edges thereof, while the lower edges are held in restraint by the connector plate.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein the threaded end of the leveling bolt is provided with a head exposed beneath the connector plate and receptive of a tool for rotating said bolt.

7. A lighting fixture comprising in combination, a pair of elongate illuminator units each having a transversely disposed end plate, said end plates having outer faces in substantial fiatwise contact, and upper and lower coinciding edges, a connector plate joining the units together near the lower edges of the end plates, leaving the upper edges thereof free of restraint against separation, and adjustable wedge means secured to, carried by and extendable from the connector plate for engaging and mov ing the end plates apart at their upper coinciding edges.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 7, wherein the adjustable wedge means is in the form of a rotatable bolt disposed substantially at right angles to the connector plate.

9. A lighting fixture comprising in combination, a pair of elongate illuminator units each having a transversely disposed end plate, the end plates being of like size and each having an outer face and upper and lower spaced edges adapted to register when the units are placed end to end, a hah pocket formed centrally in the outer wall of each end plate wherein each half pocket is substantially half cylindrical, being open at its lower end and closed at its upper end by a half conical bearing portion, a connector plate secured to and joining the units near the lower edges of the end plates in registry, said connector plate transversely spanning the joint between the end plates of the units, a wedge for advancement into the pocket formed between the outer faces of the adjacent end plates and against the bearing portion at the upper end of the pocket for forcing said end plates apart at said upper edges while the lower edges thereof are held in restraint by the connector plate, and means carried by the connector plate for advancing and retracting the Wedge relative to said pocket.

10. An end plate assembly for leveling end abutted lighting fixtures wherein the assembly comprises a pair of similar plates mounted rigidly at the end of a corresponding fixture and in face-to-face relationship with each other, each such plate being elongate and provided with a half pocket in an intermediate portion thereof, each plate having upper and lower edges which are disposed in substantial alignment and with the half pockets of the two plates forming a generally cylindrical recess between the plates, the major extent of each pocket from the lower edge toward but terminating short of the upper edge of each plate being cylindrical and the upper region of each pocket being tapered upwardly and inwardly towards said upper edge whereby, when the plates are disposed in 'face-to-face contact, the pocket is substantially closed at its upper end, and a wedge element received in said cylindrical recess and having a tapered upper end engaging the upper region of said pocket to urge the upper edges of said plates apart.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,625,646 Goeble Jan. 13, 1953 2,877,340 Spaulding Mar. 10, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS B23161 Germany Mar. 15, 1956 

